Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and CEO of the HSE Bernard Gloster have issued a formal public apology to the Sainsbury family over the death of Bryonny Sainsbury.
Ms Sainsbury, from Briskil, Newtownforbes, died after being crushed by a horse while assisting with a veterinary procedure at a riding stable in Co Longford on 26 August 2021.
Minister MacNeill and Mr Gloster said they acknowledged, without reservation, that the "health system failed both Bryonny and her family", and for this the minister and the HSE have "expressed our deepest and unqualified apology".
At the time, Bryonny was admitted to hospital in Mullingar where staff sought advice about her treatment from specialists at Beaumont Hospital.
However, an inquest in 2024 into her death heard some of the advice provided by staff at Beaumont was not followed and that she could have been saved if she had been transferred to Beaumont sooner.
Ms Sainsbury later died from her injuries at Beaumont Hospital on 31 August 2021.
Watch: 'This has to be kept up on' - parents of Bryonny Sainsbury on HSE, Minister's pledge
Five years without Bryonny are 'hard to describe'
Speaking about today's apology, Bryonny's mother Alison said it was "hard to take in after such a long time".
Ms Sainsbury said that she hopes changes will be brought to stop any other family suffering what they did, saying "it’s too late for Bryonny and that’s the hardest thing".
Bryonny’s father Christopher added that maintaining positive changes to the health service will be their daughter’s legacy.
Alison added: "We said to the Health Minister and CEO of the HSE that this has got to be kept up on...it can’t just be 'yes we’re going to do this’, it’s got to be kept an eye on, and I’ll make sure of that".
Christopher said the last five years without Bryonny are "hard to describe".
"She was so bubbly and fun, when she came through the door in the evening, she’d be full of craic. I miss her.
"She loved working down at the bog, she’d be the best one down there, like loading the trailer and unloading and all of that.
"She didn’t mind work, and proved it with her salon. She had a really good business head on her. She opened up her first salon when she was 21 and it got so busy that she had to move into a bigger place in Newtownforbes.
"One of her friends came available, and she employed her, then another became available and she employed her. She was flying it, then bang, it was taken away from here."
Alison said that horses were her passion, and provided a release for her outside of work.
'Unacceptable' communication, support, respect 'not provided' - HSE chief
In meeting with the Sainsbury family, the minister and the Mr Gloster said they heard directly about the profound distress they experienced - not only during Bryonny's time in the HSE's care, but also throughout the "lengthy review" and legal processes that followed.
"It is clear that the communication, support, and respect they needed and deserved were not provided. This was unacceptable," the HSE statement said.
Minister MacNeill said: "In my time as Minister for Health, I have met many families who have experienced the devastating loss of a loved one, and I am always humbled by their generosity and willingness to help improve the health service and protect others.
"The Sainsbury family may never know how many lives will be saved or improved through their advocacy and sharing their most painful of experiences.
"This is the poignant but enduring legacy of their beloved Bryonny."
She said she wanted to reassure the family of "our collective commitment to improve the culture in our health services so that everyone experiences the support they deserve at their times of greatest trauma and distress".
"There is no space in our health services for not listening to families, for not treating patients and families with respect and compassion, for not communicating openly and honestly," she added.
Mr Gloster said the Sainsbury family's "courage and generosity" in participating in the review process has directly contributed to the development of the National Patient Safety Alert for Clinical Governance of Traumatic Brain Injury.
He described this as an important national safeguard designed to strengthen patient safety and "ensure that the voices of patients and families are heard".
"Their tireless advocacy to bring about these necessary changes to the healthcare system is recognised, and these reforms will serve as your daughter Bryonny’s enduring legacy.
"We are fully committed to driving the cultural and systemwide changes required to ensure that no other family endures what the Sainsbury family has been through.
"We reaffirm our commitment to the core values of listening, compassion, respect, and open communication - values that must guide every interaction within our health system," Mr Gloster said.
"We hope that today’s apology, together with the publication of the review, offers some measure of acknowledgement and support as the Sainsbury family continue to live with the loss of Bryonny.
"We again extend our heartfelt condolences," he added.
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